Automatic siphon



March 8, 1960 o. BRAATEN I AUTOMATIC SIPHON Filed July 5, 1957 INVENTOR.

WATER I m T312.

0mm? BEAATEN QTTOPNEIS nited States.

My invention relates to an automatic siphon that will be suitable for use in photoprocessing trays, washing machines, dish washers, and other equipment where a repeated, complete renewal of washing liquid is required.

I have now found that the water level can be continually varied between a predetermined maximum and minimum level of considerably different values. This provides definite advantages over the maintenance of a constant water level as disclosed in the prior art. These advantages are obtained by a simple and inexpensive apparatus.

My invention has to do with the type of level control apparatus in which a siphon is supplied which will stop operating when the level of liquid in the container falls below the bottom level of the siphon inlet, and in which a water supply is arranged to supply water slowly at the top of the siphon, so that when the inlet is again submerged, the siphon tube will fill up to put the siphon once more into operation.

In accordance with my invention I provide a hole in the short leg of the siphon (the side through which the liquid enters from the container) to allow admission of air, and a valve mechanism to close such hole when the water rises in the short leg.

When the hole is closed the siphon will function in the usual manner and the siphon will drain water from the container until the water level falls below the bottom level of the siphon inlet. Air will then enter the siphon system and the water will drain back out of the short leg causing the valve mechanism to open the hole in the wall of the short leg. As this hole is positioned above the level of the bottom of the siphon inlet, air will continue to come into the siphon tube and prevent the siphon from operating until the water level of the container rises high enough in the inlet tube of the siphon to cover this hole and prevent further entry of air through the hole. The water level in the siphon cannot rise high enough alone to start the siphoning action. However, the downward flow in the long leg of the siphon of the water admitted from the outside will start the siphon in operation causing a rush of water up through the short leg and this rush of water is used to close the valve mechanism. The siphon will then operate to drain the water level down to the minimum level.

An illustrative example of the automatic siphon is shown in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a sectional side view of my apparatus and container with the valve in the closed position; and

Fig. 2 is a detailed sectional side view of my apparatus with the valve in the open position.

In Fig. 1 the siphon pipe includes a short leg or water inlet 12 and a long leg or discharge pipe 14. A pipe 16 supplies water to the container 18. There are holes 20 in the horizontal wall common to both the siphon pipe 10 and the pipe 16. These holes aid in producing the siphon efifect when water is forced through the water supply pipe 16 as is explained below.

In an outside wall of the pipe 12, I form a hole 22 ice for the admission of air and the position of this hole will control the approximate level to which the water can rise in the container. As long as this hole is open and uncovered so that air can enter into it, no siphoning will take place and the water level will rise in the container. However, I also supply a valve member for closing the hole 22 and in the device illustrated this valve is in the form of an L-shaped flap 24 mounted on pivot 26.

In operation with the hole 22 open and uncovered and the valve member 24 in the position shown in Fig. 2, air can continuously enter' through the hole 22 and no siphoning effect will be had. However, eventually the water in the container and in the pipe 12 will reach a level so that the hole 22 is submerged. As soon as this happens air no longer can enter through the hole 22 and a siphoning effect will start, caused by the downward flow of water in the pipe 14.

Initially the siphoning will be of that portion of the water in the container and in the pipe 12 which is above the hole 22. However, as soon as this siphoning effect has started the rush of water is great enough so that the valve member 24 is pushed up into the position shown in Fig. 1 and is held there by the movement of water in the pipe 12 as well as by the pressure of the water against the wall of the pipe 12 tending to hold the flap closed.

As soon as the hole 22 is closed by the valve 24 the siphoning will continue until the water level in the container 18 falls below the bottom of the pipe 12. When this point is reached air will enter the bottom of the pipe 12 breaking the siphon and the flow of water will stop. Immediately the valve member 24 will drop back to the position shown in Fig. 2 and the water will then start flowing into the vessel to reinitiate the cycle.

In view of the fact that the valve member 24 is closed by the rush of water in the pipe 12 which takes place after the level of the water in the vessel rises high enough to cover the hole 22 to permit the siphon to start into operation, the material of which the valve member is formed is relatively unimportant for its closing is caused by movement of the water and not by buoyancy. If desired the valve member may be made of plastic as is suggested for the rest of the apparatus.

It will be noted that my structure is an integral device which can be connected to any desired form of water supply as with a piece of rubber tubing and it may be hooked over the edge of a container and then will act automatically to raise and lower the level of the water in the container in continuous cycles.

Since I am able to continually vary the water level between a determined maximum and minimum level in the container the washing process is faster because the used wash liquid is periodically taken out and replaced by fresh liquid. The alternate lowering and raising of the water level produce a more turbulent motion than the maintenance of a constant water level and a more eflicient washing results. There is less tendency for the material being washed to remain at or above the water surface as so often is the case when a constant water level is maintained.

It is understood that the example shown is given only by way of illustration and is not intended in any way to limit my invention.

While any conventional material may be used in the structure of my invention I prefer to use plastic materials as these are readily available and inexpensive.

What I claim is:

1. An automatic siphon device adapted to hang over the edge of a container for repeatedly varying the liquid level in such container between a predetermined maximum level and a predetermined minimum level which comprises a short leg, a long leg and a portion of siphon pipe connecting said legs, a water supply pipe adjacent 3 said? connectingfpipeaportion; at the top ofth'e siphon and said short leg, the portion of said water supply pipe adjacent said short leg having a water outlet, a connection between said water supply pipe and the connecting portion of thesiphon pipe whereby water may. flow from theiwater supply pipe into both legs ofv the siphon pipe and the siphoning, action initiated, a hole for admis sion chair-located in the short leg of the siphon above the; bottom. level of said, short leg and below the con.- necting portion and a valve, adapted to be operated by movement of water in they siphon for closing such hole when thetsiphon is.ini operation, but to be opened when there. is: no siphonic flow so-as-to admit air to prevent the siphon from operating.

2., An automatic siphon as described in: claim 1 in which theyalve consists of a flap. within. the short. leg,

of'th'e siphon mountedpn a' pivot so that the valve will be operated by movement of water in such leg to close said hole and will be operated by gravity to open said hole when movement of Water in such leg ceases.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 590,944 Crowell Sept. 28, 1897 1,558,358 Hickman; 0st. 20, 1925 2,455,523 Rodack Dec. 7, 1948 2,469,825 Hornstein May 10, 1949 2,482,479 Hamilton Sept. 20, 1949 EOREIGN PATENTS 170,855 Germany May 17, 1906 

